I watched Coldplay's "Hymn for the Weekend" video featuring Beyoncé and I'm pretty sure my fave is problematic. For the past month "HFTW" has been my go-to happy song and Beyoncé is obviously Queen, so I was amped to see the music video. It takes place in India and features lead singer Chris Martin exploring Mumbai, temples, holy men meditating, children dancing in the streets and most controversially, Beyoncé as a Bollywood star. Before the video hit the halfway mark, the term at the forefront of my mind was "cultural appropriation." Cue the eye rolls and sighs of exasperation from people on both sides of the argument for cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation.

My first instinct was to push the thought to the back of my head. I mean, there's no way my fave could be doing something problematic. She's one of the biggest pop stars in the world and always seems to elude scandal and mass criticism. But Bey making seemingly meaningless hand gestures while adorned in henna at the 1:32 mark made me cringe. I went to Google to discover other's thoughts on the "Hymn for the Weekend" video.

What I found were mixed reviews with people either praising Coldplay and Beyoncé for focusing on the positive elements of Indian culture or accusing them of perpetuating Indian stereotypes.

Cultural appropriation happens when someone from a dominant culture adopts aspects of a systematically oppressed group's culture. In recent years, social justice warriors have called out celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Macklemore, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Iggy Azalea for using elements of oppressed groups' cultures to bolster their own popularity for profit. All of those mentioned are White.

OK, but they can't help the fact that they are White. Tacos taste amazing. Yoga is relaxing. Are we not supposed to enjoy these things because we are not associated with the cultures from which they originate? Of course not.

At the same time, we should all recognize our privileges. You may inherit privilege from birth based on race, class or gender. However, what you choose to do with that privilege is up to you. Simply stating that you have a right to express yourself, regardless of other's feelings only serves to highlight the existence of your privilege.

Having the ability to cherry-pick elements of a culture to suit your personal wants, denotes privilege. The examples of Indian culture represented in "HFTW" were selected for their mass appeal. It's easier to show simplistic, western ideals of India rather than something more rooted in reality. The video trivializes Indian culture and places it into a neat, sellable package. No doubt, India's landscape is stunning and its culture is rich. However, this video is from the perspective of a White backpacker and to him, India is a magical place where he can "find himself," on some Eat, Pray, Love shit. This world merely exists to appease the traveler.

In "Hymn for the Weekend" various aspects of Indian culture are romanticized, particularly Beyoncé's distinct "otherness" throughout the video. She is depicted as an exotic character, full of mystery, especially as Chris Martin stares in awe at her image on the big screen in a crowded theater. This serves to further elude people outside of the culture, leading to the exoticization and dehumanization of Indians.

You may be tempted to ask, "How much can we expect from a four minute pop music video?"

In just three days, the video has over 12 million views. When there so few true representations of a culture, popular artists should be responsible with their depiction of the culture they are drawing inspiration from.

How could the video have been culturally appreciative?

Rather than appearing as a Bollywood star, Beyoncé could have performed alongside Coldplay, and allowed real-life actress Sonam Kapoor -- who made a brief cameo in the video-- to be more prominently featured.

Their intentions may not have been malicious but that doesn't lessen the negative impact that the video can have on impressionable audiences that don't have a better understanding of Indian culture.

For me 2015 will be remembered as The Year of the Mixtape with the top contenders being Drake, Future and as of this holiday weekend, the incomparable Miss Erykah Badu. Erykah Badu is the epitome of the Carefree Black Girl: not because of her natural hair or deep lyrics, but because she is so unapologetically herself. She's like that cool ass aunty that you can chill with but will check you if need be.

Inspired by the beautiful simplicity of Drake's viral hit Hotline Bling, Badu crafted But You Caint Use My Phone in twelve days. There's something appealing about a collection of music made within a matter of weeks. When properly executed, a mixtape can capture a moment in time and illuminate the artistry of its creator and damn, Badu killed it!

The mixtape title refers to a popular line in Badu's 1997 song Tyrone. BYCUMP is a musical journey that explores the highs and lows of communication in the digital age. Erykah stays true to form and incorporates her usual brand of raw honesty, sex and comedy into each track.

On the trap and blues inspired Phone Down, Badu confidently asserts that she can captivate her lover and entice them to leave their cellular device at home. The quirky, upbeat U Don't Have to Call borrows from Usher's 2001 song of the same name. The mix tape concludes with an unconventional ballad with Badu's baby daddy Andre 3000.

But You Cain't Use My Phone builds on today's commercial hip hop, adding complex levels of soul and funk.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown and Queen Bey has had her share of naysayers. As a proud member of the BeyHive, it pains me to hear people speak negatively about my idol. But what bothers me the most is when people dare to question Beyoncé’s feminism.

Hello, my name is Maya...

and I'm what some would call a "Bad Feminist." I minored in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies so I'm well versed in the male gaze, rape culture and intersectionality. However, that doesn't mean I won't partake in the rachetrosity that is trap music or revel in the ridiculousness of a Real Housewives marathon.